Love X Love

Album: Give Me The Night (1980)
Charted: 10 61
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Songfacts®:

  • Love is usually expressed in addition, as in "you plus me equals ecstasy." But in this song, there's a different arithmetic: the love is multiplied, growing at a staggering rate. That means to break it would take division, not just subtraction, and this love won't be divided.
  • The title is rendered "Love X Love," with the "X" indicating multiplication. "X," of course, is also shorthand for a kiss, making it even more apropos. The song title is spoken as "Love Times Love."
  • "Love X Love" is a Quincy Jones production, which means there are some really good musicians playing on it. George Benson is an ace guitarist, and he's augmented by Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, Louis Johnson on bass, and a horn section that includes Jerry Hey on trumpet. One of the backup singers is Patti Austin, who had a big hit the following year with "Baby, Come To Me," also produced by Jones.
  • The song was written by Rod Temperton, who was the keyboard player and main songwriter in the band Heatwave of "Boogie Nights" fame. Temperton also wrote some Michael Jackson songs that Quincy Jones produced, including "Rock With You" and "Thriller."
  • "Love X Love" was the follow-up to George Benson's biggest hit, "Give Me The Night." That one was also written by Rod Temperton.

Comments: 1

  • Mitchell from Liverpool, UkAlways been a favourite of mine. Rod Temperton was one of the most underrated songwriters around for me.
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